/
RSS Feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBQciOCO8d8
Gopi Gita dasi singing a Hare Krishna bhajan for Dallas’ New Year’s 24hr Kirtan.
Dallas, TX
2010-12-31
Bhajan – 24hr Kirtan – Gopi Gita dasi – 5/26
Lecture – Prahladananda Swami – SB 10.1.22 – Unclean and Lying
/
RSS Feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvptSXy–y0
Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 1, Text 22 titled “Unclean and Lying” by Prahladananda Swami.
Dallas, TX
2010-12-15
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.22
puraiva pumsavadhrito dhara-jvaro
bhavadbhir amsair yadushupajanyatam
sa yavad urvya bharam isvaresvarah
sva-kala-saktya kshapayams cared bhuvi
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma informed the demigods: Before we submitted our petition to the Lord, He was already aware of the distress on earth. Consequently, for as long as the Lord moves on earth to diminish its burden by His own potency in the form of time, all of you demigods should appear through plenary portions as sons and grandsons in the family of the Yadus.
PURPORT
As stated in the Brahma-samhita (5.39):
ramadi-murtishu kala-niyamena tishthan
nanavataram akarod bhuvaneshu kintu
krishnah svayam samabhavat paramah puman yo
govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami
“I worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, who is always situated in various incarnations such as Rama, Nrisimha and many sub-incarnations as well, but who is the original personality of Godhead, known as Krishna, and who incarnates personally also.”
In this verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam we find the words puraiva pumsavadhrito dhara jvarah. The word pumsa refers to Krishna, who was already aware of how the whole world was suffering because of the increase of demons. Without reference to the supreme power of the Personality of Godhead, demons assert themselves to be independent kings and presidents, and thus they create a disturbance by increasing their military power. When such disturbances are very prominent, Krishna appears. At present also, various demoniac states all over the world are increasing their military power in many ways, and the whole situation has become distressful. Therefore Krishna has appeared by His name, in the Hare Krishna movement, which will certainly diminish the burden of the world. Philosophers, religionists, and people in general must take to this movement very seriously, for man-made plans and devices will not help bring peace on earth. The transcendental sound Hare Krishna is not different from the person Krishna.
nama cintamanih krishnas
caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
‘bhinnatvan nama-naminoh
(Padma Purana)
There is no difference between the sound Hare Krishna and Krishna the person.
Bhajan – 24hr Kirtan – Ratna Radhika dasi – 4/26
/
RSS Feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1H33VzQeTw
Ratna Radhika dasi singing a Hare Krishna bhajan for Dallas’ New Year’s 24hr Kirtan.
Dallas, TX
2010-12-31
Lecture – Prahladananda Swami – SB 10.1.21 – Knowledge Blessings
/
RSS Feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIHipkOGD9s
Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 1, Text 21 titled “Knowledge Blessings” given by Prahladananda Swami.
Dallas, TX
2010-12-14
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.21
giram samadhau gagane samiritam
nisamya vedhas tridasan uvaca ha
gam paurushim me srinutamarah punar
vidhiyatam asu tathaiva ma ciram
TRANSLATION
While in trance, Lord Brahma heard the words of Lord Vishnu vibrating in the sky. Thus he told the demigods: O demigods, hear from me the order of Kshirodakasayi Vishnu, the Supreme Person, and execute it attentively without delay.
PURPORT
It appears that the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be heard in trance by competent persons. Modern science gives us telephones, by which one can hear sound vibrations from a distant place. Similarly, although other persons cannot hear the words of Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma is able to hear the Lord’s words within himself. This is confirmed in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.1): tene brahma hrida ya adi-kavaye. Adi-kavi is Lord Brahma. In the beginning of the creation, Lord Brahma received the instructions of Vedic knowledge from Lord Vishnu through the medium of the heart (hrida). The same principle is confirmed herewith. While Brahma was in trance, he was able to hear the words of Kshirodakasayi Vishnu, and he carried the Lord’s message to the demigods. Similarly, in the beginning, Brahma first received the Vedic knowledge from the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the core of the heart. In both instances the same process was used in transmitting the message to Lord Brahma. In other words, although Lord Vishnu was invisible even to Lord Brahma, Lord Brahma could hear Lord Vishnu’s words through the heart. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is invisible even to Lord Brahma, yet He descends on this earth and becomes visible to people in general. This is certainly an act of His causeless mercy, but fools and nondevotees think that Krishna is an ordinary historical person. Because they think that the Lord is an ordinary person like them, they are described as mudha (avajananti mam mudhah). The causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is neglected by such demoniac persons, who cannot understand the instructions of Bhagavad-gita and who therefore misinterpret them.
Bhajan – 24hr Kirtan – Mukunda Datta das – 3/26
/
RSS Feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXl0p9pHzsk
Mukunda Datta das singing a Hare Krishna bhajan for Dallas’ New Year’s 24hr Kirtan.
Dallas, TX
2010-12-31
Lecture – Prahladananda Swami – BG 13.26 – Parrot Incarnation
/
RSS Feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi17Xr3Bxtc
Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Chapter 13, Text 26 titled “Parrot Incarnation” given by Prahladananda Swami. This is at a home program at Lavangalatika’s house.
Dallas, TX
2010-12-13
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 13.26
anye tv evam ajanantah
srutvanyebhya upasate
te ‘pi catitaranty eva
mrityum sruti-parayanah
TRANSLATION
Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death.
PURPORT
This verse is particularly applicable to modern society because in modern society there is practically no education in spiritual matters. Some of the people may appear to be atheistic or agnostic or philosophical, but actually there is no knowledge of philosophy. As for the common man, if he is a good soul, then there is a chance for advancement by hearing. This hearing process is very important. Lord Caitanya, who preached Krishna consciousness in the modern world, gave great stress to hearing because if the common man simply hears from authoritative sources he can progress, especially, according to Lord Caitanya, if he hears the transcendental vibration Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. It is stated, therefore, that all men should take advantage of hearing from realized souls and gradually become able to understand everything. The worship of the Supreme Lord will then undoubtedly take place. Lord Caitanya has said that in this age no one needs to change his position, but one should give up the endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth by speculative reasoning. One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord. If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee, hear from him about self-realization and follow in his footsteps, one will be gradually elevated to the position of a pure devotee. In this verse particularly, the process of hearing is strongly recommended, and this is very appropriate. Although the common man is often not as capable as so-called philosophers, faithful hearing from an authoritative person will help one transcend this material existence and go back to Godhead, back to home.
Bhajan – 24hr Kirtan – Mukunda Datta das – 2/26
/
RSS Feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OogIqQVwoA
Mukunda Datta das singing a Hare Krishna bhajan for Dallas’ New Year’s 24hr Kirtan.
Dallas, TX
2010-12-31
Bhajan – 24hr Kirtan – Mukunda Datta das – 1/26
/
RSS Feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW4MxIqzkuE
Mukunda Datta das singing a Hare Krishna bhajan for Dallas’ New Year’s 24hr Kirtan.
Dallas, TX
2010-12-31
Lecture – Mukunda Datta das – SB 10.1.43 – Spiritual Advancement
/
RSS Feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7G9edtdFcE
Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 1, Text 43 about “Spiritual Advancement” given by Mukunda Datta das. This lecture was given just prior to the start of the New Year’s Eve 24hr kirtan.
Dallas, TX
2010-12-31
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.43
jyotir yathaivodaka-parthiveshv adah
samira-veganugatam vibhavyate
evam sva-maya-raciteshv asau puman
guneshu raganugato vimuhyati
TRANSLATION
When the luminaries in the sky, such as the moon, the sun and the stars, are reflected in liquids like oil or water, they appear to be of different shapes — sometimes round, sometimes long, and so on — because of the movements of the wind. Similarly, when the living entity, the soul, is absorbed in materialistic thoughts, he accepts various manifestations as his own identity because of ignorance. In other words, one is bewildered by mental concoctions because of agitation from the material modes of nature.
PURPORT
This verse gives a very good example by which to understand the different positions of the eternal spiritual soul in the material world and how the soul takes on different bodies (dehantara-praptih). The moon is stationary and is one, but when it is reflected in water or oil, it appears to take different shapes because of the movements of the wind. Similarly, the soul is the eternal servant of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but when put into the material modes of nature, it takes different bodies, sometimes as a demigod, sometimes a man, a dog, a tree and so on. By the influence of maya, the illusory potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the living entity thinks that he is this person, that person, American, Indian, cat, dog, tree or whatever. This is called maya. When one is freed from this bewilderment and understands that the soul does not belong to any shape of this material world, one is situated on the spiritual platform (brahma-bhuta).
This realization is sometimes explained as nirakara, or formlessness. This formlessness, however, does not mean that the soul has no form. The soul has form, but the external, agitating form he has acquired because of material contamination is false. Similarly, God is also described as nirakara, which means that God has no material form but is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]. The living entity is part and parcel of the supreme sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, but his material forms are temporary, or illusory. Both the living entity and the Supreme Lord have original, spiritual forms (sac-cid-ananda-vigraha), but the Lord, the Supreme, does not change His form. The Lord appears as He is, whereas the living entity appears because material nature forces him to accept different forms. When the living entity receives these different forms, he identifies with them, and not with his original, spiritual form. As soon as the living entity returns to his original, spiritual form and understanding, he immediately surrenders to the supreme form, the Personality of Godhead. This is explained in Bhagavad-gita (7.19). Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate. When the living entity, after many, many births in different forms, returns to his original form of Krishna consciousness, he immediately surrenders unto the lotus feet of the supreme form, Krishna. This is liberation. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (18.54):
brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kankshati
samah sarveshu bhuteshu
mad-bhaktim labhate param
“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.” Surrender unto the supreme form is the result of bhakti. This bhakti, or understanding of one’s own position, is the complete liberation. As long as one is under an impersonal understanding of the Absolute Truth, he is not in pure knowledge, but must still struggle for pure knowledge. Kleso ‘dhikataras tesham avyaktasakta-cetasam (Bg. 12.5). Although one may be spiritually advanced, if one is attached to the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth one must still work very hard, as indicated by the words kleso ‘dhikatarah, which mean “greater suffering.” A devotee, however, easily attains his original position as a spiritual form and understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His original form.
Krishna Himself explains the forms of the living entities in the Second Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, where He clearly says to Arjuna that He, Arjuna and all other living entities, who were previously in their original forms, are separate individual identities. They were individuals in the past, they are now situated in individuality, and in the future they will all continue to maintain their individual forms. The only difference is that the conditioned living entity appears in various material forms, whereas Krishna appears in His original, spiritual form. Unfortunately, those who are not advanced in spiritual knowledge think that Krishna is like one of them and that His form is like their material forms. Avajananti mam mudha manushim tanum asritam (Bg. 9.11). Krishna is never puffed up by material knowledge and is therefore called acyuta, whereas the living entities fall down and are agitated by material nature. This is the difference between the Supreme Lord and the living entities.
In this connection it is to be noted that Vasudeva, who was situated in a transcendental position, advised Kamsa not to commit further sinful activities. Kamsa, a representative of the demons, was always ready to kill Krishna, or God, whereas Vasudeva represents a transcendentally situated person to whom Krishna is born (Vasudeva is the son of Vasudeva). Vasudeva wanted his brother-in-law Kamsa to refrain from the sinful act of killing his sister, since the result of being agitated by material nature would be that Kamsa would have to accept a body in which to suffer again and again. Elsewhere in Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.4), Rishabhadeva also says:
na sadhu manye yata atmano ‘yam
asann api klesada asa dehah
As long as the living entity is entangled in the fruitive activities of so-called happiness and distress, he will receive a particular type of body in which to endure the three kinds of suffering due to material nature (tri-tapa-yantrana). An intelligent person, therefore, must free himself from the influence of the three modes of material nature and revive his original, spiritual body by engaging in the service of the Supreme Person, Krishna. As long as one is materially attached, one must accept the process of birth, death, old age and disease. One is therefore advised that an intelligent person, instead of being entangled in so-called good and bad fruitive activities, should engage his life in advancing in Krishna consciousness so that instead of accepting another material body (tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]), he will return home, back to Godhead.
Lecture – Prahladananda Swami – SB 10.1.20 – Kalachandji study cards
/
RSS Feed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFCNoDnUDqo
Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 1, Text 20, titled “Kalachandji study cards” by Prahladananda Swami.
Dallas, TX
2010-12-13
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.20
tatra gatva jagannatham
deva-devam vrishakapim
purusham purusha-suktena
upatasthe samahitah
TRANSLATION
After reaching the shore of the ocean of milk, the demigods worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu, the master of the whole universe, the supreme God of all gods, who provides for everyone and diminishes everyone’s suffering. With great attention, they worshiped Lord Vishnu, who lies on the ocean of milk, by reciting the Vedic mantras known as the Purusha-sukta.
PURPORT
The demigods, such as Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, King Indra, Candra and Surya, are all subordinate to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Aside from the demigods, even in human society there are many influential personalities supervising various businesses or establishments. Lord Vishnu, however, is the God of gods (paramesvara). He is parama-purusha, the Supreme Being, Paramatma. As confirmed in the Brahma-samhita (5.1), isvarah paramah krishnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah: “Krishna, known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body.” No one is equal to or greater than the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore He is described here by many words: jagannatha, deva-deva, vrishakapi and purusha. The supremacy of Lord Vishnu is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (10.12) in this statement by Arjuna:
param brahma param dhama
pavitram paramam bhavan
purusham sasvatam divyam
adi-devam ajam vibhum
“You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty.” Krishna is adi-purusha, the original Personality of Godhead (govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami **). Vishnu is a plenary expansion of Lord Krishna, and all the vishnu-tattvas are paramesvara, deva-deva.